| Cyber bullying and victimization has become a worldwide public health problem,and the prevalence among Chinese adolescent is alarming.The United Nations Children’s Fund notes that cyber bullying and victimization are even more damaging to individuals than traditional victimization.Therefore,an increasing number of researchers are trying to examine the development patterns of cyber bullying and victimization,identify the factors that increase cyber bullying and victimization,and explore their adverse outcomes.Previous studies have found that there is heterogeneity of cyber bullying and victimization.However,no studies have identified the differences between trajectories based on the possible coexistence relationship of them.Therefore,this study used an individual-centered perspective to examine the joint trajectory of cyber bullying and victimization to examine whether a group of adolescents was more likely to follow the trajectory of severe or long-term cyber bullying and victimization(research question 1).Previous studies have pointed out that there is no single factor that can lead to the occurrence of cyber bullying and victimization.Unfortunately,few studies have included multi-level influencing factors at the same time,which is impossible to describe the occurrence situation of adolescent cyber bullying and victimization in a comprehensive way.Therefore,based on ecological system framework,this study examined whether school factors(perceived school climate and teacher-student relationship),family factors(interparental conflict,parent-child relationship,and parenting styles),peer factors(deviant peer affiliation and student-student relationship)and individual factors(self-esteem,emotion regulation,and time spent online)played risk or protective roles in adolescent cyber bullying and victimization(research question 2).Prior research has found the negative impact of cyber bullying and victimization on individual development.However,previous studies mostly used variable-centered approach,which was difficult to identify the differences in developmental outcomes within distinct classes of adolescent cyber bullying and victimization.Therefore,this study included academic performance,depressive symptoms,delinquency,well-being,prosocial behavior,and internet addiction as outcomes to explore the differences between different trajectory groups(research question 3).In this study,1,365 adolescents from four middle schools in Wuhan,Hubei Province were selected as the research subjects,including 554 adolescents from middle schools(Mage=12.90 years;SD=0.52)and 811 senior high school students(Mage=15.90;SD=0.50).53.2%adolescents were male,and 46.8%were female.Since the spring semester of 2015,a longitudinal survey was conducted every year.Through self-report questionnaire,adolescents reported their cyber bullying and victimization,the predictors of each level,and the outcome indicators.Parallel process latent class growth analysis found that there were three distinct trajectories including "stable low group" "low-increasing group",and "high-decreasing group".Logistic regression analysis showed that cyber bullying and victimization were affected by multiple factors.Specifically,perceived negative school climate,more conflicts between parents,insensitive parenting style,and deviant peer affiliation could increase the risk of cyber bullying and victimization.Moreover,the "low-increasing group" and "high-decreasing group" experienced worse developmental outcomes over time than "stable low group".Compared with the "stable low group",the "low-increasing group" and "high-decreasing group" had higher levels of depressive symptoms,delinquency,and internet addiction after two years.Meanwhile,the "high-decreasing group" had lower levels of prosocial behavior than the "stable low group".By examining the developmental trajectories of cyber bullying and victimization among Chinese adolescents,this study helps to better understand how cyber bullying and victimization evolve over time among different groups of individuals,and identifies specific groups of adolescents that follow severe or long-term trajectories of cyber bullying and victimization.Additionally,there is no single factor that can impact the occurrence of cyber bullying and victimization,and all levels of factors work together on individuals.Moreover,the negative impacts of cyber bullying and victimization on individuals can last up to two years.In conclusion,this study advances the understanding of the nature of cyberbullying and victimization,which provides new insights for prevention and intervention.Given the coexistence relationship of cyber bullying and victimization,programs to intervene in cyber bullying should not only focus on the perpetrator’s risk of recidivism,but also consider the potential as a victim.Moreover,teachers and parents should systematically pay attention to the common risk factors and protective factors of cyber bullying and victimization,and adopt multi-pronged prevention and intervention programs. |
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